How Does a Non Gun Packing Girl Protect Herself? Create a Personal Protection Plan
We are all about no hype here at PreparednessMama. Since we are ultimately about personal preparedness at this website let’s get into how a non-gun packing girl can protect herself. I’m finding it hard to discuss personal protection; it’s not something I think about regularly and if I dwell on it too much I get overwhelmed. Creating a personal protection plan has helped me overcome the anxiety.
We aren’t going to get political here – you can keep your own counsel on whether gun control is working for our country. Because as I see it, protection is a personal thing.
I’m writing this post to give you the perspective of a non-military family and how women can protect themselves.
I am the reluctant one when it comes to guns. I don’t know how to use them very well, so they scare me. Like in World War Z, I would be the brilliant scientist who forgets to keep her finger off the trigger and shoots herself!
Here are some thoughts I’ve had about personal protection –
Can you protect yourself non-violently
Is it just about guns – what if you don’t know how to use one?
What about pepper spray and mace?
Taser guns might work, can I even get one and how do I learn to use it?
I could carry a knife but would I actually use it?
Self-defense training might be the ticket. Do I have time for that?
Regardless of how you choose to protect yourself, the important thing is to have a plan. As in all things preparedness, having a plan is what saves us from panic.
Ask yourself the following questions to help develop a good personal protection plan that will work best for your situation. Then you will be better able to decide which protection path you should choose.
What am I even protecting myself from?
While I don’t personally believe in all of these, you must consider protecting yourself from:
- riotous crowds and flash mobs
- your un-prepared neighbors
- wild beasts
- maybe even …Zombies
When will I need to use it?
If there is a breakdown of society and we have to deal with civil unrest
Severe storms are always in the of back our minds. First responders and law enforcement are often overwhelmed during these times.
Break ins – on my new property in the country if the alarm system goes off it will take the police about 45 minutes to arrive. Not exactly protection, but it’s the tradeoff I get while I enjoy living in the country.
What am I really protecting anyway?
- My food storage
- My personal belongings
- My virtue
- My family’s physical safety
- My life even…
I want to think optimistically but plan accordingly.
Today’s Challenge will take some thought. Let’s call it your personal protection plan.
1. Decide what you are protecting yourself from
2. Decide what you are ultimately protecting
3. Do some research on the kind of protection you are comfortable with using
4. Make a protection plan that includes getting the training and supplies you need
Here are some great resources to help guide you in your personal protection planning
SurvivalCache has a great article about Situational Awareness for Women
Survival Mom has a series of articles about being prepared and using firearms
No Nonsense Self Defense is a large site with lots of information covering a wide variety of topics. This includes information on personal safety, discussions on home security, property protection, robbery prevention, safe dating and self-defense. They also discuss what self-defense is and isn’t, finding good self-defense training, survival in high-risk professions and introduce you to the facts, complications and aftermath of violence.
Fine platitudes. But realistically, if the bad guys try to kidnap your kids at Walmart, execute a home invasion in your home, stalk you
on a dark street, take people hostage… how is that going play out? “Stop! I’ve got a plan right here!” ???
I understand the fear of guns to the point of rapid breathing, shaking, near tears. But with a good instructor even this fear can be
conquered.
There was a time I would have agreed with fear of guns rationalizing not using a weapon so why train, etc. But things are different
in this world now. Sure having a gun might not make a difference. But I recall a mall shooter who dropped his
weapon when he saw a concealed carry permit holder had a weapon trained on him. People defeat bad guys everyday with responsible
use of self-defense weapon. Never forget it is the bad guys who are bad; not the people who dare defend themselves. The liberals
and the mainstream media try to mislead the undiscerning on this issue.
Yeah, there is no guarantee that a gun is effective. But if you fail to try, failure is guaranteed. I don’t want to live with
the regret of making such a choice when my kids lives might depend on it.
Hi Sophie, thanks for stopping by. I couldn’t agree more. There are all kinds of bad guys we need to prepare for these days. The purpose of this post is to get people thinking about how they are going to protect themselves and to make a plan and get the training that fits their comfort level. We live in a country where we are free to choose our own form of protection. That might be guns for some and it might not for others.
Excellent and thoughtful advice. Thank you.